Page 145 of Tin God

Her heart was a burning fire, and he loved her for it. A thousand years wouldn’t quench it. A thousand innocents rescued wouldn’t quell her need to help the next.

For his Brigid, eternity was only worth it if she could mend the hurt, find the lost, and give them the justice they deserved.

“For tonight, Brigid” —he brushed a gentle hand over the curve of her forehead— “it is enough. You’ve done enough.”

ChapterThirty-Seven

Ben sat on the deck of theNautilusas the humans they’d rescued from belowdecks waited in the falling rain for more ships to come and pick them up. Jennie said human-captained boats were leaving from Juneau with doctors and other day people on board, but they wouldn’t reach the bay until dawn.

“We’ll need to find shelter before then,” Jennie said. “I hate the idea of leaving them here, but?—”

“There are a dozen wind vampires who can wait for a while longer. There are humans on board some of the boats.” He was scanning the sky, looking for Tenzin, but though he could feel her near, she wasn’t showing her face. “Let your water vampires go back with you, leave the human personnel on board, and go find shelter.”

“The bodies have all been thrown overboard.” Jennie kept her voice low. “I don’t think any will float up, but try to keep them away from the railings if you can.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Ben wasn’t sure that these survivors wouldn’t benefit from seeing their tormentors’ bodies, but he was no expert.

The fifty-some humans on board were a mix of staff for the cleaning and the cooking—including the missing chef from theDolphin—a few favorite “pets” that belonged to Paulson’s vampires, and random human captives taken from pirated vessels and raids along the coast.

The staff had been better treated than the captives, but all the humans were traumatized except for a few who appeared to have been in thrall to vampire guests on the ship. Those Jennie had already secured in the hold of her cruiser since Katya would need to question anyone who might have collaborated with Paulson.

“I’ve already contacted Katya. She and Oleg are coordinating to round up every ship in Paulson’s shadow fleet using that list that Gavin sent.” Jennie narrowed her eyes and drilled her gaze into Ben. “You’re sure he’s dead?”

“Head. Off.” Ben sliced a finger across his neck. “Did it myself.”

“I’m still not sure what happened on that bridge, but I’m glad he’s gone.”

“So am I.” Ben needed to see Tenzin. He needed to feed her blood. He needed to have his mate in his arms, and he needed Jennie gone and her people taking charge of the human survivors so he could find her. “I’m going to find Tenzin and check on Carwyn and Brigid as soon as I can.”

“I’ve never seen a fire in this part of Alaska before.” Jennie looked out toward the island. “Hope everyone is okay.”

“I’ll report back to your people as soon as I know.”

She finally left on her ocean cruiser, and Ben immediately flew to the island where the fire was burning.

He reached out with his amnis and felt his mate answer. Her need was as ferocious as the burning pain in her side.

Ben flew low over the forest, catching her scent in the branches of a pine tree where she was huddled in what was left of an old eagle’s aerie.

“Tenzin?”

She looked up, and Ben’s rage roared in his chest.

“Where is Zasha?”

“Dead.” Tenzin’s lips moved slowly and painfully. “Zasha is dead. I saw Brigid kill them.”

“Fuck.” Ben cradled her unburned cheek in his hand. “Oh my God, Tenzin. What happened? What happened to you?”

Whatever fire had burned Tenzin had slashed from her right elbow up her shoulder and crawled up her neck to the lower part of her right cheek. Her tunic was burned away from most of her body, and angry red scars marred her pale skin in an angle from her wrist to the edge of her right cheek.

Ben stared at her, his hands hovering and unsure. “What do I do?”

She shook her head. “Nothing. I’ll heal. It’ll take a long time, but it’s surface damage only.” She bent her arm, breaking open an oozing wound in the curve of her elbow. “No tendons or ligaments seriously damaged. I can still fight.”

“Tenzin, stop moving.” He didn’t know where he could touch that wouldn’t hurt. “I have to be able to do something.”

“Nothing.” She shook her head. “I just need time.”

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